By Mukunda Gaire, Kathmandu, Mar. 18: The government's programme to distribute Identity Cards to farmers has been moving on in full swing.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, orientation is being given to local authorities in 70 districts to fill up the ID card form.

"We have already completed province-level orientation programme in all seven provinces. Now, we are giving orientation to technical teams in local levels regarding the collection of the details of farmers," said Sujan Dhungel, deputy secretary at the ministry.

The ministry informed that the farmers had been filling up the online form for ID cards currently. As of today, around 500 farmers have given online applications for the ID cards.

"We have been working to distribute ID cards to 700,000 farmers by the end of this year," said Dhungel.

After the distribution of ID cards, the farmers will be able to easily access the services and facilities provided by the government.

The Agriculture Ministry had collected the online data of farmers to issue identity cards a few months earlier in coordination with Small Farmers Agriculture Cooperatives in Mandandeupur Municipality-10.

Benefits of identity card

Currently, the ministry has been collecting the details of the farmers regarding the area in which they are farming. It has been said that after the collection of the details, it will be easier to identify the difficulties faced by the farmers.

From the upcoming Fiscal Year, the facilities will be given to the farmers on the basis of their ID cards. Various facilities like grants, agricultural equipment, chemical fertilisers, seeds, and other objects needed in farming can be accessed via an ID card.

The government had introduced 'Farmers' ID card' programme on FY 2071-072.

How to apply for ID card

According to the ministry, farmers can themselves apply for the card via the government's web portal. If the farmers are unable to fill up the online form, they can take help from the volunteers deployed at the local level.

After the local level offices certify the details mentioned in the online form, the farmers can print their ID cards themselves.

Moreover, forms to receive an ID cards can also be filled up at offices under the ministry.

The government is also striving to develop a mobile application to ensure farmers' easy access to the ID card and other facilities.

The app will be ready within two weeks.